FAIRDALE - A naturalist training course begins January 9 and 14, 2012 in the Horine Center at Jefferson Memorial Forest.

During this 15-week training program, volunteers will learn how to lead fun, hands-on field trips, experience the values and benefits of natural areas, discover basic ecology and make connections between species and landscapes.

National Board Certification - the "gold standard" for teaching excellence - was celebrated December 7th at a White House event heralding the newest class of 6,200 board certified teachers, which brings to nearly 100,000 the total number of board certified teachers in the U.S.